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Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are increasingly attracting millions of users, but also cybercriminals, as a successful attack means maximum profit with little risk. This also applies to "ether," the most widely used cryptocurrency after Bitcoin. As a precautionary measure, researchers at the CISPA Helmholtz Center i.G. at Saarland University have developed a methodology for this cryptocurrency that not only finds security vulnerabilities, but also uses them to automatically develop attacks. The result: they found 815 security holes that allow 1564 attacks. The Saarbrucken computer scientists present their approach on Wednesday at the international USENIX Security Symposium in Baltimore, USA.

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01.06.18

CHE Ranking: Saarland University computer science once again at top position

According to the latest ranking by the Center for Higher Education Development (CHE), Saarland University computer science is among the four best computer science departments in all of Germany. In the computer science field, Saarland University shares first place with the computer science departments at RWTH Aachen, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Technical University of Munich. The Saarbrücken students gave top marks in particular to the overall study conditions and especially the support they receive during their studies. For the computer science ranking published in the ZEIT study guide, the CHE examined 57 German universities and compared a total of over 30 subjects.

In the current ranking, four criteria were especially decisive. In addition to the “general study conditions, “support at the beginning of one’s studies” and the “support during one’s studies”, the Saarbrücken students rated the “scientific connections” in particular with top grades. Only three other universities were able to hold their own in the comparison.

Further analysis of the remaining 21 criteria shows that the Saarbrücken computer science students also appreciate on the breadth of course offerings. They also give very good grades for assistance with stays abroad, the library facilities, and informational events on careers. Saarbrücken computer science also earned top scores for third-party funding per scientist as well as its number of doctorates per professorship.

University President Manfred Schmitt was pleased about the once again outstanding performance of Saarbrücken computer science as well as the very good reviews in the natural and life sciences. “The students in computer science appreciate the excellent study conditions at Saarland University. This is an impressive confirmation of the ranking and helps to bring bright minds, to whom Saarbrücken computer science research offers manifold opportunities, to our university from all over the world. We sincerely hope that this strong performance in the ranking will help to spark excitement for these subjects at our university on the part of gifted high school graduates from other federal states,” says University President Schmitt.

For 20 years, the CHE ranking has been offering prospective students guidance toward choosing the best university for each study subject. For the ranking, criteria such as the range of courses offered, the mentoring environment, and the acquired research funding are compared. As well, information from the universities themselves is taken into account, and students at the respective universities are surveyed.

Background: Saarland Informatics Campus (SIC)

1,700 students from 81 countries study in 15 informatics-related programs on the Saarland Informatics Campus (SIC) at Saarland University, within three established departments. More than 800 scientists, in two graduate schools and six internationally renowned research institutes, are researching the complete spectrum of informatics topics, thus particularly enriching the areas of IT security, artificial intelligence, visual computing, bioinformatics, and the Semantic Web – from the foundations to innovative applications. The SIC works together with international corporations such as Google, Microsoft and Facebook, and supports numerous spin-offs through its IT Incubator (ITI). Thus it acts as a driver for further industry, research, and development laboratories to locate in the area. The full potential of the site is leveraged to generate scientific publications and win prizes, as well as to put forth patent applications and technological innovations. Thanks to its excellent expertise and competitiveness, joint success is guaranteed at the Saarland Informatics Campus.